Thursday, November 18, 2010

Neill Franklin in the Huffington Post

LEAP's executive director, Neill Franklin, has a new article in the Huffington Post. It's about the video "10 Rules for Dealing with Police" from Flex your Rights. This is different from LEAP's usual message but judging by the comments it was well received.

Now, imagine you were making a film for police officers: "10 Rules for Dealing with the Public." What would your rules be?

8 comments:

This sounds like a fun challenge. But first, are you talking about still being in a prohibition world, or a post-prohibition world?

Second, I think my ideas would be more realistic if I had a better sense of how they are trained now.

Related to that is the fact I used to wave to cops. I used to smile to cops and nod my head, "hi." But I felt forced to stop roughly 20 years ago, or more. None of them was ever friendly back, and the sense I got — due to their scowls and frowns — was they thought, "what's he up to? I know he's guilty of something and toying with me." Frankly, it made me angry, they seemed like jerks.

I still want to be friendly, but I ignore the ones in cars, and if I'm walking past one on the street maybe I'll try to see if I can make eye contact (far too many wear black sunglasses) to see if they are interested in saying hi.

However, I never stopped waving to the firemen. They always wave back! It's like they actually realize, "hey, there's someone who appreciates us."

I'm still sheepish to say I know what to write. First I think the LEAP retirees are far more wise and should speak to this. They've lived and experienced a lot, policing is far different now than it used to be back in the 60's and 70's. Even in my short years in Alabama I saw the campus police go from friendly guys in mild-mannered uniforms to tough-guy SWAT looking military in black uniforms decked out like they were going to war.

Before I wrote any set-in-stone rules for dealing with the public I really have to know what they are being taught, before I try to eclipse it.

However, I do agree with what "prickly" says. And although it's been ages since I've been able to bring myself to watch COPS on TV, at least one enduring criticism comes to mind: don't scream "relax" or "calm down" at others.

I can't say how many times I've been appalled at the basic contradiction of shouting at someone to relax or calm down. Shouting is only necessary when the person one is trying to communicate with is being so loud that one has to break through their panic. I mean shouting at someone, no matter what is said, only increases the tension.

Here's another one which seems to reach across state lines. If you're not driving your car, turn it off. I, my mother, and others have pointed out the craziness of cops letting their cars idle for 10+ minutes, even close to an hour as they do something else. I just don't understand it, they are not driving diesel engines.

One thing I admit I've really liked in my observations, personally and through ancient COPS episodes, is they let people talk. They don't interrupt constantly. As anyone who deals with kids realizes, letting them talk is helpful for many reasons, including letting liar's lies unravel.

But back to LEAP. I think probably the best people to address this would be long time cops, now members of LEAP, who have interacted with cops who did not realize (at first) they used to be cops. I'm wondering how many "we don't do it like that nowadays old man" comments there have been.

Having 25 years experience, of dealing with the public, with 13 years, as a Security Guard, my perspective is much more detailed then 10 ways. Not once, have they touched me in anger, neither have I had to lay hands on any of them.Not all of my suggestions will make sense, without stating that you must be able to evaluate a persons' character, long before you open your mouth.Looking strong is not the problem, unapproachable can be, when the person could be harmless. Public relations is foremost, and is what needs to be focused on.As a licensed guard, it's well known to people, that careering a weapon of any kind, is illegal for us. Even the Bobby of London, was allowed to carry a baton. This makes you much more aware of the risk you could be facing. Your cell phone becomes a weapon that needs to be used often. Holding your finger over the send button can cool off a person, without having to even use it.With that said, my ways of dealing with people, that are likely to get violent, is drastically different than with the police. This type of person is not difficult to notice, if you know what to look for. This takes hundreds of hours of observation of this kind of behaviour. A classroom is not going to show you much more than a 2 dimensional view.Posture & cadence, of both self & speech, make the person take notice of your authority, and possible fighting skills. The uniform is not working to your benefit at first, as these people usually have a major problem with authority figures already.The first point you try to portray is, the lack of tolerance for disrespectful treatment, but this also means, you have to force yourself not to behave that way, till they break the deal first. Many of them are wishing to be finally confronted, by us, with a respectful tone, this will confuse them enough for you to get them to slow down, and rethink their strategy of response. By the time they regroup, you can inform them of the FACT, that you are not present to make the rules, just to inform, and if they persist, the next level of response, is to up the level of force(call 911, in my case). This information on a rethinking, aggressive brain, usually makes them focus on the fact that someone is treating them with respect, that they would not have expected. Their usual response is a thanks, and a have a nice night. Even the ones that started with a death threat have done this, in less than a minute of conversation.Most of these people don't want to get hurt, or locked-up. They weigh their options, and like the one that has them, finding something better to do with their time, while retaining the buzz, they most likely have-on. Judge not, lest thee be judged. Not that religion will help, at the time, but remaining as calm as possible can be a huge benefit, as they will assume you are highly ready to escalate the situation. Aggression can cause them to believe you are nervous. These types of people have to confront scarier people than you, on a regular basis, don't fool yourself with the arrogance, that you are even the biggest threat they have faced recently. As soon as they appear to have considered relaxing, make sure you appear pleased with this decision, or they may think you are full of it. Keep your body position in the ready, but not in the threatening, stance, like a fighter, just before the bell goes. Empathise, never try to sympathise, as this does not go over very well with addicts, at all.Feel that this should be in a course somewhere, but it takes a ton of patience, which most people, do not have. Peace.

Having 25 years experience, of dealing with the public, with 13 years, as a Security Guard, my perspective is much more detailed then 10 ways. Not once, have they touched me in anger, neither have I had to lay hands on any of them.Not all of my suggestions will make sense, without stating that you must be able to evaluate a persons' character, long before you open your mouth.Looking strong is not the problem, unapproachable can be, when the person could be harmless. Public relations is foremost, and is what needs to be focused on.As a licensed guard, it's well known to people, that careering a weapon of any kind, is illegal for us. Even the Bobby of London, was allowed to carry a baton. This makes you much more aware of the risk you could be facing. Your cell phone becomes a weapon that needs to be used often. Holding your finger over the send button can cool off a person, without having to even use it.With that said, my ways of dealing with people, that are likely to get violent, is drastically different than with the police. This type of person is not difficult to notice, if you know what to look for. This takes hundreds of hours of observation of this kind of behaviour. A classroom is not going to show you much more than a 2 dimensional view.Posture & cadence, of both self & speech, make the person take notice of your authority, and possible fighting skills. The uniform is not working to your benefit at first, as these people usually have a major problem with authority figures already.The first point you try to portray is, the lack of tolerance for disrespectful treatment, but this also means, you have to force yourself not to behave that way, till they break the deal first. Many of them are wishing to be finally confronted, by us, with a respectful tone, this will confuse them enough for you to get them to slow down, and rethink their strategy of response. By the time they regroup, you can inform them of the FACT, that you are not present to make the rules, just to inform, and if they persist, the next level of response, is to up the level of force(call 911, in my case). This information on a rethinking, aggressive brain, usually makes them focus on the fact that someone is treating them with respect, that they would not have expected. Their usual response is a thanks, and a have a nice night. Even the ones that started with a death threat have done this, in less than a minute of conversation.Most of these people don't want to get hurt, or locked-up. They weigh their options, and like the one that has them, finding something better to do with their time, while retaining the buzz, they most likely have-on. Judge not, lest thee be judged. Not that religion will help, at the time, but remaining as calm as possible can be a huge benefit, as they will assume you are highly ready to escalate the situation. Aggression can cause them to believe you are nervous. These types of people have to confront scarier people than you, on a regular basis, don't fool yourself with the arrogance, that you are even the biggest threat they have faced recently. As soon as they appear to have considered relaxing, make sure you appear pleased with this decision, or they may think you are full of it. Keep your body position in the ready, but not in the threatening, stance, like a fighter, just before the bell goes. Empathise, never try to sympathise, as this does not go over very well with addicts, at all.Feel that this should be in a course somewhere, but it takes a ton of patience, which most people, do not have. Peace.

Having 25 years experience, of dealing with the public, with 13 years, as a Security Guard, my perspective is much more detailed then 10 ways. Not once, have they touched me in anger, neither have I had to lay hands on any of them.Not all of my suggestions will make sense, without stating that you must be able to evaluate a persons' character, long before you open your mouth.Looking strong is not the problem, unapproachable can be, when the person could be harmless. Public relations is foremost, and is what needs to be focused on.As a licensed guard, it's well known to people, that careering a weapon of any kind, is illegal for us. Even the Bobby of London, was allowed to carry a baton. This makes you much more aware of the risk you could be facing. Your cell phone becomes a weapon that needs to be used often. Holding your finger over the send button can cool off a person, without having to even use it.With that said, my ways of dealing with people, that are likely to get violent, is drastically different than with the police. This type of person is not difficult to notice, if you know what to look for. This takes hundreds of hours of observation of this kind of behaviour. A classroom is not going to show you much more than a 2 dimensional view.Posture & cadence, of both self & speech, make the person take notice of your authority, and possible fighting skills. The uniform is not working to your benefit at first, as these people usually have a major problem with authority figures already.The first point you try to portray is, the lack of tolerance for disrespectful treatment, but this also means, you have to force yourself not to behave that way, till they break the deal first. Many of them are wishing to be finally confronted, by us, with a respectful tone, this will confuse them enough for you to get them to slow down, and rethink their strategy of response. By the time they regroup, you can inform them of the FACT, that you are not present to make the rules, just to inform, and if they persist, the next level of response, is to up the level of force(call 911, in my case). This information on a rethinking, aggressive brain, usually makes them focus on the fact that someone is treating them with respect, that they would not have expected. Their usual response is a thanks, and a have a nice night. Even the ones that started with a death threat have done this, in less than a minute of conversation.Most of these people don't want to get hurt, or locked-up. They weigh their options, and like the one that has them, finding something better to do with their time, while retaining the buzz, they most likely have-on. Judge not, lest thee be judged. Not that religion will help, at the time, but remaining as calm as possible can be a huge benefit, as they will assume you are highly ready to escalate the situation. Aggression can cause them to believe you are nervous. These types of people have to confront scarier people than you, on a regular basis, don't fool yourself with the arrogance, that you are even the biggest threat they have faced recently. As soon as they appear to have considered relaxing, make sure you appear pleased with this decision, or they may think you are full of it. Keep your body position in the ready, but not in the threatening, stance, like a fighter, just before the bell goes. Empathise, never try to sympathise, as this does not go over very well with addicts, at all.Feel that this should be in a course somewhere, but it takes a ton of patience, which most people, do not have. Peace.

Having 25 years experience, of dealing with the public, with 13 years, as a Security Guard, my perspective is much more detailed then 10 ways. Not once, have they touched me in anger, neither have I had to lay hands on any of them.Not all of my suggestions will make sense, without stating that you must be able to evaluate a persons' character, long before you open your mouth.Looking strong is not the problem, unapproachable can be, when the person could be harmless. Public relations is foremost, and is what needs to be focused on.As a licensed guard, it's well known to people, that careering a weapon of any kind, is illegal for us. Even the Bobby of London, was allowed to carry a baton. This makes you much more aware of the risk you could be facing. Your cell phone becomes a weapon that needs to be used often. Holding your finger over the send button can cool off a person, without having to even use it.With that said, my ways of dealing with people, that are likely to get violent, is drastically different than with the police. This type of person is not difficult to notice, if you know what to look for. This takes hundreds of hours of observation of this kind of behaviour. A classroom is not going to show you much more than a 2 dimensional view.Posture & cadence, of both self & speech, make the person take notice of your authority, and possible fighting skills. The uniform is not working to your benefit at first, as these people usually have a major problem with authority figures already.The first point you try to portray is, the lack of tolerance for disrespectful treatment, but this also means, you have to force yourself not to behave that way, till they break the deal first. Many of them are wishing to be finally confronted, by us, with a respectful tone, this will confuse them enough for you to get them to slow down, and rethink their strategy of response. By the time they regroup, you can inform them of the FACT, that you are not present to make the rules, just to inform, and if they persist, the next level of response, is to up the level of force(call 911, in my case). This information on a rethinking, aggressive brain, usually makes them focus on the fact that someone is treating them with respect, that they would not have expected. Their usual response is a thanks, and a have a nice night. Even the ones that started with a death threat have done this, in less than a minute of conversation.Most of these people don't want to get hurt, or locked-up. They weigh their options, and like the one that has them, finding something better to do with their time, while retaining the buzz, they most likely have-on. Judge not, lest thee be judged. Not that religion will help, at the time, but remaining as calm as possible can be a huge benefit, as they will assume you are highly ready to escalate the situation. Aggression can cause them to believe you are nervous. These types of people have to confront scarier people than you, on a regular basis, don't fool yourself with the arrogance, that you are even the biggest threat they have faced recently. As soon as they appear to have considered relaxing, make sure you appear pleased with this decision, or they may think you are full of it. Keep your body position in the ready, but not in the threatening, stance, like a fighter, just before the bell goes. Empathise, never try to sympathise, as this does not go over very well with addicts, at all.Feel that this should be in a course somewhere, but it takes a ton of patience, which most people, do not have. Peace.